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Sea Stars

Sea stars (also known as Starfish) are a commonly sighted, varied and beautiful animal within the Phylum of Echinoderms. They have at least five legs (but some species have many more) and have the unique ability to regenerate limbs if needed (although this can take a year for a leg to fully grow back). Living only in marine environments (not freshwater) these starfish have had a presence on this planet for an estimated 600million years! Fossils have been found from as far back as the Cambrian period. This phylum also includes sea urchins, feather stars, brittle stars and sea cucumbers. The word starfish is misleading as these animals are not fish which is why more and more people are referring to them as the more appropriate name seastars.

Sea Stars (Asteroidea)

Sea Stars regularly seen in Sydney

Pentagonaster dubeni (Australian Biscuit Seastar)Another common starfish seen in Sydney, also known as the Vermilion / Australian Biscuit Starfish. This is part of the Family ‎Goniasteridae. Red and white with a very precise and clean pattern, with shorter arms.

Plectaster decanus (Mosaic Seastar)A fairly common starfish in Sydney with a distinctive pattern of yellow or white ridges, with pink, red or purple spots inside. Long arms, often stretched over rocks or sponge gardens.

Meridiastra calcar (Eight-armed star)This is a commonly sighted seastar found in the shallow tidal pool areas usually as you go in or out from a dive site. They can be highly variable in colour and really beautiful.

Anthehea Sidneyensis (Sydney star)This fat bodied, almost dead looking seastar has a rusty old appearance and short stubby legs. It is not very commonly sighted in Sydney. This starfish belongs to the Family Oreasteridae.

Astropecten polyacanthus (Comb Star)This purple and white starfish is sometimes seen on night dives at sandy locations walking the ground and seeking out its dinner. This starfish is part of the Family Astropectinidae.

Luidia maculata (Speckled star)This starfish is typically found in warmer waters but during the summer can be found in Sydney's waters. It has long arms and is coloured cream, brown and purple tones.

Fromia polypora (Many-Pored Seastar) This red and orange starfish has long legs and is seen perched amongst the sponge gardens in Sydney occassionally. This starfish belongs to the Family Ophidiasteridae.

Feather Stars (Crinoidea)

Ptilometra australis (Southern Feather Star)A rare sighting in Sydney, seen in deeper waters, this beautiful starfish has many legs (up to 23 arms). Purple or red in colour these starfish are also known as the 'Passion Flower' feather star.

Brittle Stars (Ophiuroidea)

Ophiothrix Spongicola (Sponge Brittle star)This is a Brittle star, which belongs to a different class than the starfish. This particular species is fairly common in Sydney but is camera shy. At night as soon as you shine a light on this brittle star it will retract its legs quickly and get out of sight. This brittle star belongs to the Family Ophiotrichidae.